Trump appoints California state senator to federal post

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A Republican state lawmaker in California says he will resign to accept a job with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Sen. Jeff Stone announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump has appointed him to be the department’s western regional director. He will resign from the state Senate on Friday.

The western region includes the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Stone represents Riverside County and was a member of the county board of supervisors before being elected to the state Senate in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018.

Stone says he was deeply honored to be appointed and thanked the voters of Riverside County for electing him.

The resignation will trigger a special election to replace Stone.